Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Rejection Without Submission?

An anonymous LRODer sent this rejection in to share, noting that on first glance (click to make larger) it seemed like any standard form letter, but our friend goes on to say: "I have no idea who Leslie Daniels is, and never submitted to her or 'daniels books LLC.' When I look her up, she appears to be a literary agent. So how did some of my work end up in her hands? (Plus, the note doesn't include my cover letter or any reference to what I submitted -- so I have no way of even knowing what she's rejecting). Eventually I discover that she's the editor of Green Mountains Review. What? Were they too cheap to print their own rejection slips? It's frustrating enough getting rejection slips without having to play detective to figure out what journal is rejecting you."

14 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Lot of scintillating comments you're getting, Rejected.Like I said (in the Appel/Spitzer post): Dullsville.Notice how, this time, I used "you're" correctly. You pointed out, Rejected (writing as Anonymous) my error. That's right out of the Karl Rove game plan: focus on something inconsequential while avoiding the main (and uncomfortable) issue.You mention (writing as Heynonnymous) great men like Genoways and Junker who've honored your blog with their presence. But in my original comment I mention that this site has been Dullsville for the past month. Now Strauss can't be bothered to comment on a post dedicted to his novel.Your book club idea was a flop. Your blog is turning into one too. What went wrong?

Crazy Uncle Army? Is that you? Have you gone off your meds again? Escaped from the sanitarium?

I think Mom's been looking for you, man. You better keep a low profile because she often comes around and blogs and she'll spot your flimsy anonymous cover.

And here's another thing, Unc...if Karl Rove is talking to you again, plug your ears. Seriously.

Also, it's not so good to project your many personalities onto others. For most of us, there is just one person inside, one whole person, and we write under one name. I know it's hard to understand, but it's true.

Lastly, Uncle Army, if you're so bored, you should maybe see your doctor for some help. Boredom is probably a sign that something's wrong.

The "Anonymous" above who accuses your blog of having become tedious (yet reads every boring word it seems) and who guesses that you and all the Anonymice are in fact one and the same person is a genius. Yes, THAT genius. Yes, I'm onto you WR - it's you again, isn't it?! Posing as your escaped lunatic uncle, messing with our heads, livening things up...

BTW I'm the Anonymous who called out Crazy Uncle Army for using the wrong "Your". Clearly, that stung a little. And Karl Rove had nothing to do with it.

i have a question about the person who emailed you the rejection story. didn't he/she put the name and address of the magazine on the sase? to and from, doesn't everyone learn how to address envelopes in kindergarten? seems it would save alot of detective work.

my guess: predatory agent. buys info on rejections from lit mag. sends out fake rejection to writer gullible enough to write back and say, uh, what exactly are you rejecting. at which point, said predator says oh my mistake you say you are a writer we're always looking for good material...

Sounds like she just grabbed the wrong rejection slip. A mistake, but not exactly an unforgiveable one.

Usually writers who don't ask for their manuscript back write the title on their return envelope, so they know who's rejecting what. I can't think of of many journals that will write out the title of your story or poem on their form letter for you.

I know Leslie--as she's a regular teacher at the Squaw Valley Community of Writers and has always struck me as honest and reputable. She is both fiction editor of Green Mountains Review and a literary agent. No idea how she could have received your information unless as someone else suggested perhaps you submitted to Green Mountains Review and she mistakenly sent you a rejection from her agency instead, which also seems really unlikely. Very mysterious

Have to correct you, Rejected (writing as Anonymous). "Yet reads every boring word, it seems." God, no! Even in the good old days I skimmed some of your posts; what interested me were the comments - when they had purpose, conviction, spirit, originality (or at least two of those qualities). You know, in the past. And I don't think you're "all the Anonymice." Just some. It would be second nature for someone who exists under a false identity to comment under various aliases.By the way, you failed to address my questions, Rejected. Just did some lame clowning around. But that's OK.

Love how you've adopted WR's pet name for you, Trolly, good little bad little Troll that you are. Or, no, wait... Could it be?! Is that you again, WR, now disguising yourself as that pesky Trollster? OMG! Is there no end to your devious attempt to make it seem like you have loyal readers?

Rules of the Game

4) Be nice to one another. The world is already overpopulated with asses.

Guess What?

After 15 years of rejections (most of them posted here along with all the rejections you've sent me over the years), my novel is getting published by a literary press. Little third-gendered me will soon have a book you can read for yourself and see if the hundreds of rejections were misguided or not. For more on the matter, read this post and this one too.

People Magazine Picks Miracle Girls

What the What? (This is actually for real.)

ew.com blog review

"Failure is the New Funny. Whether you're a writer ... or a bookworm ... Literary Rejections on Display is worth checking out."

Huff Po Compliment

"A highly entertaining blog."

The Millions Assesses

"An answer to what to do with your rejections: throw them away, but first, complain about them on the internet!"

Gawker Gawks LROD

"A reminder of the competitive pressures that help drive some authors to start plagiarizing and making things up."

GALLEYCAT Chimes In

"Excellent blog."

The Boston Phoenix Rises

"Might we suggest whiling away the hours with Literary Rejections On Display? We've been hooked for the last couple of weeks..."

Psych Today Puts LROD On The Couch

"An author who, like the rest of us, experiences many more rejections than acceptances."

Blogher Offers a Female Nod

"And since something isn't really something until there's a blog about it, I give you Literary Rejections on Display."

Poets & Writers Questions LROD

"Isn't it part of the writer's job to learn from--rather than reject--rejection?"

HTML GIANT Confesses

"I am sort of addicted to this site. I go through phases: I check it regularly, then I stop myself and ignore it for several months. Then I remember it again and sift through its wreckage."

The Village Voice Bitches About LROD

"Deliberately composed of unpublished individuals who wear their rejection slips as badges of integrity."

Cape Cod Times Gets the Joke

"Caschetta’s wit sparkles in “Literary Rejections on Display,” a humorous and intelligent look at the literary world"